We had high hopes for the 2015 Subaru WRX STI after seeing the fantastic WRX concept at the New York auto show last month. Our spy shooter has managed to catch an early prototype with what looks to be production body panels, and it bears virtually no resemblance to the sultry show car.

Despite previous reports saying that the WRX would move away from being a tarted-up Impreza, these spy shots tell another story. No low-slung coupe or racy sedan here, just a more powerful and aggressive-looking Impreza. We can clearly see that much of the bodywork for the 2015 WRX carries over from the Impreza almost unchanged – the profile, in particular, has seen little change with its acres of flat sheetmetal and big greenhouse.

Luckily, Subaru has seen fit to give the WRX's nose and tail more of an overhaul in the transformation from the Impreza. Where old WRX models gained sportier trim, diffusers, and the like, the 2015 WRX looks to be gaining different front and rear fascias when compared with its more-plebian donor. Here is where we can see the influence of the fantastic New York concept car: the front clip wears an almost-identical hexagonal grille, trapezoidal lower intakes, and LED-encircled xenon headlights. Around back, the diffuser has similar ribbing to the concept car. Since this is a WRX STI, there is the requisite giant rear wing. Other changes include larger wheels, LED taillights, and a hood scoop.

Powertrain details still remain murky, but it's expected that the 2015 Subaru WRX will make around 270 hp from a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer-four derived from the BRZ's engine, while the hotter STI will again exceed 300 hp. For a point of reference, the current WRX and STI use a turbo 2.5-liter boxer-four good for 265 hp in the former and 305 hp in the latter. Of course, we assume Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive will be de rigueur, as will be a manual transmission.Stay tuned for more information, as we expect to see the final 2015 Subaru WRX STI within the next 12 to 18 months.

you are forgettin this is the sti not wrx. the sti and wrx are 2 seperate cars. plus this is a prototype and will most likely not look much like this when it comes out! i actually think it looks atm like this anyways!

Compare this to the Impreza on the Subaru website. Aside from the hood scoop, the only things that are *slightly* different are the headlights, fogs, grill and the bottom of the rear bumper (mostly because of the quad tailpipes). The overhang, the windows, the side panels, door handles, etc are *identical*. Pretty sad that they'd stray from that incredible concept. Why even remove Impreza from the name if it's still going to look 98% like one?

by the looks of the camo Subaru... I don't like the look of it. No disrespect to you reading, if it looks anything like the concept car I'll be on the fast track to buying one of course, its easier said than done and concept cars are released a lot tamer than expected to be.

Subaru did not even hint that the upcoming WRX would have a completely different body than the ordinary Impreza when they showed the awesome WRX concept at NYIAS; I don't think they should do it as they are loved for being sleepers(apart from that massive rear wing, which I hope is functional); moreover, it would cost much more if it has it's own body structure; case in point, Audi and Mercedes Benz have their "low priced" performance cars that are close (performance wise) to what Subaru and mysterious Mitsubishi offer.

I think this is just a test mule for the next WRX and maybe a mid-cycle refresh of the Impreza. With all the talk of it being further differentiated from the Impreza, it will need to be better then these shots. Myself, I would like a WRX version of the XV CrossTrec with the 8 inches of ground clearance and the Hatch.

Maybe people, like myself, lambasting the WRX concept for being to pretty and dignified has made Subaru quickly change back to the old way. However it's more likely that the concept with its carbon fiber roof and completely unique sheet metal was probably just to expensive to justify a production version right now. Just from these images I can say this does seem to posses that ugly Subaru charm that I personally found in wanting on the concept. Subaru is smart they know people will buy the WRX STI no matter what it looks like because mechanically it is truly magical. Looking forward to the new Subie even if it's still a hopped up Impreza, with a gaudy spoiler. (yay! gaudy spoiler)

Subaru has a history of comming out with exciting concepts and the actual production model looking a lot tamer. This is no suprise. I assumed they would take the impreza body and restle the grille and head/tail lamps and call it a stand alone wrx/sti model apart from the impreza. This looks like that is exactly what will happen.

Nice to see turbo versions of the 'BRZ' 2 liter coming around. Now.. if they could just put a turbo version of it in the -BRZ- itself.... with maybe say... 250 horses. If they did that, I might just consider buying one!. (Wow.. what a concept)

Disappointing. sensible, but disappointing. This is the third time (at least) that Subaru has followed it's excellent concept with a failure of a production vehicle. Sorry Subaru, my next car likely wont be one of yours.

So who says this is the 2015? The 2014s aren't out yet and I thought the split between WRX and Impreza was supposed to occur then. Also kick your paps into gear and get some shots of the interior. If the inside is the same boring cheap plastic then it probably isn't the full refresh.

From a purely common sense standpoint, this makes sense to me. Does anyone really believe that WRX and STi sales numbers are high enough to justify the development of an entirely unique body? Financially speaking, an exclusive body wouldn't be logical to begin with.

I actually like it. It's bulky, rugged, fast, and useable. It's a STI, not a M3. Personally, I wouldn't buy a STI 4 door coupe like the concept previewed. I like my STI's with mud flaps and roof racks please.

The good news for the new Impreza / WRX / WRX STi is that the Subaru styling bar has been set very low by the current Impreza, Legacy and especially the new Forester (which has a face only a Subaru stylist or the mother of a Subaru stylist can love). Even it isn't as sweet looking as the concept. it's bound to mark a huge improvement over the current bland-mobile (as would a return to the bug eyed look of the '02).

And this is why I hate "concept" cars.....Why even take the time to build a sleek, futuristic, kiss ass looking " concept", to then be like, ya we just wanted to show you the direction we will be going, in like 10 years.....or never!! But hey they may use the LED's from the show car, or offer the same paint that was on the car.....Give me a damn break!! In 2 years my ranting my be pointless, we could all be suprised and see a coupe or that " concept" car in 2015........I'm just tired of getting excited for ANY show car that the car companies roll out, saying its the diretion of the new design, only to be let down, like in this case.

what is up with subaru in the aesthetics department? i understand they no longer do WRC, but is that really an excuse to make the car look more like a wide fender fiesta with an oversized spoiler? maybe they should hire back the design team responsible for the 07 design, that was fantastic.

Hopefully this is a 2014 model. These pics look just like the existing STI. If the final product looks like this after being teased with the awesome concept then I'm gonna hold on to my cash till something better comes around.

Ugly ugly! They always seems to screw it up just like the BRZ. It was one of the best looking cars ever in concept form. Then they dumbed it down and uglizied it. Now I wouldn't even consider one especially with only 200hp.